# NTSB ATL95LA082: Cessna 337G, N38E, Savannah, GA, April 11, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 11, 1995, 17:50 local (21:50 UTC) - Place: Savannah, GA - Coordinates: 32.120227, -81.179229 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1202&lon=-81.1792&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 23, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3549 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL95LA082 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3549/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL95LA082 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE AND HIS IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS DURING LANDING WHICH RESULTED IN COLLAPSE OF THE NOSE GEAR. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - Loss of control - in flight, landing - flight controls - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - runway (contributing factor) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown - landing gear,nose gear - overload (cause) ## Analysis THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE RUNWAY WHILE ATTEMPTING A VISUAL LANDING ON RUNWAY 9, AT SAVANNAH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD AND BOUNCED WHICH RESULTED IN THE PILOT LOOSING CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRPLANE BEGAN A SERIES OF PORPOISES DOWN THE RUNWAY AFTER THE INITIAL TOUCHDOWN, WHICH TERMINATED WITH THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED. AT 1750, ON THE SAME DAY, THE SAVANNAH AUTOMATIC TERMINAL INFORMATION SERVICE DEPICTED THE WIND AS COMING FROM 150 DEGREES AT 9 KNOTS, WITH GUSTS TO 16 KNOTS. ## Factual narrative On April 11, 1995, about 1750 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 337G, N38E, landed hard, bounced, then collapsed the nose landing gear at Savannah, Georgia. The airplane was operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan was not filed for the personal flight. There were no injuries to the private pilot, who was the sole occupant, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Origination of the flight was Pontiac, Michigan, at 1235 eastern standard time, on the same day. According to the pilot, the aircraft was high on final approach. As the airplane was approaching the touchdown point, the aircraft sank rapidly. Upon touchdown, the aircraft bounced. The pilot then added power. The airplane touched down again, and porpoised several times. The pilot then added full power and climbed a few feet above the runway. With ample landing distance remaining, the pilot decided to continue his landing attempt, and reduced power. The aircraft landed hard, again, and started a second series of porpoises which terminated with the airplane's collision with the runway. During the collision, the nose gear collapsed. At 1750, on the same day, the Savannah Automatic Terminal Information Service recorded the wind as coming from 150 degrees at 9 knots, with gusts to 16 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N38E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N38E-2013-04-19), registration cancelled 2013-04-19, S/N 33701798, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 337G - Registry model: [Cessna 337G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-337g) (registry code 2075730) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (registry code 17025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 33701798 - Engines: Continental IO-360-GB2B 210 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ebling & Associates, Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: PTK, PONTIAC, MI - Destination: SUA, STUART, FL - Airport: CAV, Savannah International, runway 9, 9,351 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,370 total, 982 in this make and model, 1,358 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 9 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19950411007189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950411007189A), Apr 11, 1995: Cessna 337G, Savannah, GA, Substantial damage. Bounced and porpoised repeatedly on landing until nose gear collapsed. Had strong gusty quartering crosswind. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.